City updates

Bath Rugby are revealing new designs to the public for the redevelopment of the club’s current stadium at The Rec. The stadium plans will go on show at the club’s final home game v Saracens on 6 May from 2–4pm, as well as on 10 May at Widcombe Social Club from 11am–7pm and they will also be available online at bathrugby.com from 6 May.

Stakeholder and public feedback during previous consultations has influenced the new stadium design that the club plans to submit to B&NES Council. The previous scheme shared pre-pandemic has evolved and the project team are looking forward to sharing the stadium’s designs and benefits. As part of the redevelopment, the public riverside space to the west of The Rec will be widened, creating a more inviting and usable space, on matchdays and nonmatchdays, and the structure itself will allow for greater community use. The proposed capacity of the stadium will increase to 18,000 with increased provision for accessibility needs, as well as providing a new permanent home for Bath Rugby Foundation. bathrugby.com

The Circuit of Bath Walk has become an unmissable institution and a vital fundraiser for charity Julian House. Now in its 22nd year, the 20-mile challenge across the outskirts of Bath has seen thousands of people explore some of our most stunning countryside and experience the city in a whole new way.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday 24 September. Participants will walk a circular route that takes in stunning views overlooking the historic city, including the gorgeous vistas from Little Solsbury Hill and South Stoke Millennium Viewpoint. While the charity is encouraging people to tackle the full 20-mile route, participants can choose their own distance and start point, thanks to the five checkpoints along the route and a free taxi service between each.

Community and Events Fundraiser Gavin Osborn said: “By taking part, you are enabling us to support at-risk people in our emergency hostel and domestic abuse refuge. You will be helping to save lives”.

Early Bird tickets are on sale now (£10 adult, £5 child, £22 family). Dogs are welcome and there are buggy-friendly sections. To sign up for the walk go to www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for Circuit of Bath Walk.

Al Murray has always had a passion for history and on 22 May he is coming to do a talk at BRLSI. Based on his recently published book Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War, Murray will highlight the performance and careers of some of the leading protagonists who commanded armies, as well as the lesser-known officers who led divisions, regiments and even battalions for the British, Commonwealth and United States of American armies.

By showcasing each combat commander across every major theatre of operations the allies fought in, Murray tells the story of how the Western Allies rebounded from early shocking defeats (Dunkirk and Pearl Harbor) to then victories (El Alamein and D-Day) in its efforts to defeat the Axis forces of Nazi Germany and Japan, and what that tells us about the characters and the challenges facing them.

Al Murray is best known as a multi-award winning stand-up comedian and also hosts the podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk with military author James Holland. Command has received extremely positive reviews and been praised for bringing a unique perspective to some of the key characters and events of the Second World War.

Command talk with Al Murray, 22 May, 7.30–9pm, in person or online. BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath, £4–£7. brlsi.org

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) launches its new season of art fairs on 14 May at Green Park Station. BCAF brings the best of contemporary art to Bath, with fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more.

This year BCAF –which celebrated its 20th fair last December –is collaborating with Bath Spa University, offering mentoring, placements and subsidised exhibition spaces for their talented ‘Emerge’ students (who have graduated within the last two years). BCAF is also linking up with The Bath Festival and the first fair on 14 May coincides with the start of the festival’s events programme. The BCAF fair will also see the launch of the fair’s first ever mentoring programme for 16–25-year-olds, with mentors offering career advice, pricing or technical support. BCAF has also produced its first BCAF brochure, available throughout the city, featuring artists from BCAF and information about all the events. BCAF, 14 May, 10am–5pm, Green Park Station; bcaf.co.uk

by Penny Chivers Stanley

Vulnerability or Strength

Depp V Heard: The Unreal Story by Nick Wallis, publishing on 17 May, is the definitive account of the infamous court battles between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

In 2020, movie star Johnny Depp sued The Sun newspaper at the High Court in London for calling him a wife-beater. His ex-wife Amber Heard was the star witness. Depp lost. In April last year, Depp sued Heard in the US for claiming she was the victim of domestic violence. This time Depp won. This raised a fundamental question: after two exhaustive trials, how did the outcomes differ so widely?

Nick Wallis was the only journalist on the ground at both trials. In London he live tweeted from inside the court, publishing daily transcripts of proceedings, and connecting with millions of people on social media. Nick was the first to tell the world that Depp had lost against The Sun and that he’d failed in his application to appeal. Nick then crowdfunded his way to Virginia for the second trial as an independent reporter. As coverage of the trial snowballed, Nick experienced the effect it had on everyone involved.

The book seeks to tell the definitive story of the saga. In an engaging style Nick sets up the legal drama, weaves in his own reportage and analyses the evidence to unearth the real truth.

Nick Wallis is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and author of The Great Post Office Scandal (Bath Publishing, 2021). Depp V Heard: The Unreal Story, Bath Publishing, £12.99; bathpublishing.com

South west legal and financial planning services firm Mogers Drewett has acquired Bath-based Freemans Solicitors following Shaun Freeman’s decision to retire.

Established in 1999, Freemans solicitors developed a specialist private client practice, renowned for its exceptional client care and service. The acquisition will enable Mogers Drewett to grow its market share in both legal and financial planning services.

Sean McDonough, Managing Partner of Mogers Drewett explains, “Shaun has a great reputation for delivering a highly specialised and personalised service to his clients, who will now benefit from a wider range of both legal and financial services offered by Mogers Drewett and we look forward to welcoming his clients.”

Shaun Freeman says, “Mogers Drewett has an excellent private client department and is therefore perfectly equipped to ensure my clients receive the standard of care and level of expertise they need now and in the future, and I shall retire knowing my clients are in safe hands.” mogersdrewett.com

In celebration of her 20 years in business, Joanna May has produced a new series of paintings for the exhibition

Crop Circles and Wildlife. Joanna discovered that some crop circles, a feature of the Wiltshire summer landscape, portray animals. Inspired by this she has portrayed the featured animal in exquisite detail next to the crop circle and embellished the painting with gold leaf, creating a decorative, highly collectable style of work. Prints are priced from £350 and original works from £2,900.

Joanna is known for her paintings of hares, leopards, zebras, lions and tigers and her works, selling at up to £15,000, are collected widely. She has a listing in Who’s Who In Art and her artwork can be seen at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s hotel near Thame, Oxford. She has held exhibitions with wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham to raise money for tiger conservation, at the Savoy Hotel London with TV presenter Michaela Strachan to raise awareness for the plight of the Tiger in association with London Zoo, and with Lee Durrell to raise money for the Gerald Durrell Foundation.

Love Letter to Wiltshire: An Exhibition of Works by Joanna May is open at Wiltshire Museum until Sunday 11 June. Tickets, which include entry to the museum, start at £7.50 (concessions available, free for under 18s) and can be pre-booked at wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/prebooktickets. Museum opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am–5pm and Sundays 11am–3pm.

Forest Live, the major outdoor live music series presented by Forestry England, takes place this year between 8–18 June and introduces forests to new audiences in unique, natural woodland arenas around the country.

Over 2 million people have attended a Forest Live gig in the last 22 years, experiencing great music and supporting the nation’s forests. Going to a concert helps Forestry England create beautiful places for people to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees. Last year they planted some 6.8 million trees, caring for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests sustainably and welcoming 363 million visits annually. Forest Live in this region takes place at Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. This year’s headline acts are: Paul Weller with special guests Far From Saints and guest support Seb Lowe on Thursday 8 June; Tom Grennan with special guest Matilda Mann and support Liv Dawson on Friday 9 June; and Jack Savoretti with special guest Natalie Imbruglia on Saturday 10 June. For further info/tickets: forestryengland.uk/music